Marcia Lowrey

Marcia Mae Lowrey
June 12, 1933 –November 2, 2025

Marcia was born in Grand Rapids, MI to Anthony Gnidziejko and Cecelia Radlicki. She attended Catholic schools including Catholic Central High in Grand Rapids. She was the youngest of three sisters. Virginia, the eldest, and Barbara, the middle.

Marcia was a rebel and an adventurer. She drove from Grand Rapids to San Diego, CA with her best friend in the mid-50's. She was the only one in her family to leave the midwest, and she made sure her daughters grew up knowing their family. Many happy summers were spent at 1012 Dayton. Later in life she travelled the world with her friends and family.

An unforgettable trip to the Bahamas for Junkanoo, is a perfect example of her fearless, go-for-it nature. Some local aquaintances were leading Marcia, Saralynne, Becki and Jim (Becki's husband) to a prime parade viewing spot that was from a second story balcony. It was too crowded to go through the front door, so we had to go the back way. However, that entailed climbing a ladder to the top of a pitched roof and walking across it to the front of the building. Marcia ignored our pleas to stop and started climbing. We had no choice but to follow and we did enjoy a perfect view!

Marcia was an awesome mom. Creative, inspiring and a constant source of support to her two daughters, Saralynne Lowrey Precht, and Rebecca Ann McGrath. Very involved in the community, she helped start a program at Hardy Elementary school that allowed kids the check out prints of important masters' paintings. A great cook and a whiz at the sewing machine she made Halloween costumes for her daughters every year. Marcia loved celebrations. Her home was always well decorated for every holiday.

Though she never graduated college, Marcia rose through the ranks at Southern California First National Bank (now US bank) to become the La Jolla Shores branch manager. She was a mentor to many women. She was the president of the National Assoc. of Bank Women (now Financial Women International) and president of Soroptomist International of La Jolla. She was also president of San Diego Women's Club, Juniors in 1967-68.

Marcia had one grandchild, Sullivan Lowrey Gnidziejko Precht, who she adored completely. Her friends remember her lighting up every time she spoke of him. When he was born in 2004, she said she wanted to live long enough to see him graduate high school. She was at that graduation ceremony cheering him on with the rest of the family.

Marcia loved reading (in 2 long running book clubs), singing (a member of Sweet Harmony chorus), playing Rummikub, doing puzzles and socializing. She was a cancer survivor and lived life to the fullest for all of her 92 years. She will be terribly missed by her many friends and family, but she will live on in our wonderful memories.

She is pre-deceased by her father, Anthony Gnidziejko, mother, Cecelia Radlicki, sisters, Virginia Sherwood and Barbara Gnidziejko, ex-husband, Dick Lowrey and son-in-law, James Patrick McGrath. She is survived by her daughters, Saralynne Lowrey Precht and Rebecca Ann McGrath. Her son-in-law, Vincent Henry Precht and grandson, Sullivan Lowrey Gnidziejko Precht.

A celebration of life is planned for after the new year. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations to the Autism Society of San Diego or Planned Parenthood be made in her name.

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